NEW YORK — Dan Rather will be temporarily replaced with veteran "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer when Rather steps down next month as "CBS Evening News" anchor, the network said yesterday.

Schieffer will serve "for a short transition period" until the broadcast gets a new format, CBS News President Andrew Heyward said.

CBS chief Leslie Moonves said last month that he was probably going to install a multi-anchor format for the "CBS Evening News," which has been a distant third in the ratings behind NBC and ABC.

The Schieffer announcement confirms that the new multi-anchor format won't be ready in time for Rather's exit March 9.

Schieffer, who joined CBS News in 1969 and has been chief Washington correspondent since 1982, will continue with "Face the Nation."

Carlson makes deal with MSNBC

Tucker Carlson is moving

Tucker Carlson, the conservative former co-host of "Crossfire," will take over MSNBC's 6 p.m. weekday slot. No launch date or format is set yet, but The Washington Post reported he signed his contract Tuesday.

Carlson's future at PBS, where he hosts the public-affairs show "Unfiltered," is cloudy. The Washington-based "Unfiltered" airs in most markets at 9:30 p.m. Fridays (at 10 a.m. Sundays in Seattle). His PBS contract expires in June.

"We're moving forward with the show through June with the intention of putting him on every week," says Dewey Blanton of Washington's WETA, "Unfiltered's" producing station. "I have heard nothing different from my people or from PBS."

Carlson, a "Crossfire" co-host since 2000, left CNN Jan. 6 after his contract was not renewed. At MSNBC, he will lead into Joe Scarborough's 7 p.m. show, giving the network a one-two conservative punch.

Martha Stewart to host "Apprentice" spinoff

Martha Stewart will star in a spinoff of "The Apprentice" after she's released from prison in March, NBC announced yesterday.

"Americans love to see people make good after being pushed down," said Mark Burnett, creator of "The Apprentice."

Her role on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" was negotiated before Stewart started a five-month sentence at the federal women's prison in Alderson, W.Va., in October for an obstruction-of-justice conviction, which she is appealing.

Following her release, Stewart will serve five months in home confinement, but will be permitted to work up to 48 hours weekly outside the home.

In a 27-city casting tour for "The Apprentice" that starts this week, candidates will be asked whether they'd like to work for Trump or Stewart, NBC said.

Stewart will also launch a syndicated daytime talk show in September, also produced by Burnett, who visits her monthly at the minimum-security prison.

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